It ranges between $78,570 and $192,965, based on different calculations of the value of Adams’ mailed-out pamphlets, events and canvassing work to boost support in the riding, and an estimate of the value of work on her behalf by her partner, Dimitri Soudas, who was forced to step down last month as executive director at the party’s national headquarters for meddling in the local race.

Adams has been rebuked by the party for her behaviour toward party volunteers in the new riding and was allowed to remain in the race but required to submit a detailed costing of her campaign last Friday to ensure she was within the spending limit of $17,721.66.

Her own submission on costs has not been made public.

On Thursday, Adams did not respond to the Star’s emailed request for comment, however she denied any excessive spending in a posting on Twitter:

“We have sought Elections Canada’s WRITTEN advice and guidance on all matters proactively. We are in full compliance. #NowhereNearTheLimit.”

Lishchyna’s estimate, obtained by the Star, was provided Thursday morning to the Conservative Party of Canada, which did not respond to requests for comment.

One political services provider disputed its inclusion in the estimate, saying it never did any work on Adams’ campaign and said the estimate for such work was completely inaccurate in any event.

It is however a signal of just how closely fought the riding nomination contest has become. Lishchyna’s supporters, many of whom sit on the new riding association executive, say they don’t trust Adams to accurately document her costs.

Adams’ campaign has come under scrutiny after Soudas was forced aside for breaching his contractual obligation to stay out of the race.

The estimate was prepared by Douglas Varty, a certified public accountant who said he based it partly on his 30 years of experience in performing financial audits.

Varty said political contests tend to underestimate costs, and while he did not have access to “detailed information such as how broadly mailings and campaign literature was sent” nor how many party, parliamentary or constituency resources might have been used, he was able to provide cost ranges, using the number of active, inactive and life party members listed in the riding, or relying on third-party estimates for other calculations.

Lishchyna supporter John Mykytyshyn said her campaign felt it necessary to provide the party with its own estimate of Adams’ campaign spending because “we just frankly didn’t have any faith she would remember to include everything or accurately reflect what she’s spent in trying to become the candidate.”

“I’m confident if she makes it all the way to the end of this process, Elections Canada will find her in violation when they conduct their audit down the road.”

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